Students of Visva Bharati at Santiniketan, who have been staging a sit-in over rustication of three peers for more than a week, began a relay hunger hunger strike today after putting up a flower bouquet at the main entrance of Vice Chancellor (V-C) Bidyut Chakraborty's residence on the occasion of Teachers' Day.
The agitators said that they had placed the bouquet on the gate to wish the V-C, but despite their effort, Mr Chakraborty "did not acknowledge it".
Somnath Sow, one of the three rusticated students, said the hunger strike will be observed by the students to press for their demand for immediate revocation of the expulsion order.
Rupa Chakraborty, another rusticated student, was the first one to begin the strike during the day.
"Our agitation for immediate revocation of the expulsion order will continue. We will carry on with this peaceful satyagraha, more than 50 metres away from the V-C's residence, in accordance with the high court directive. We feel sorry that he did not accept our floral tribute and refused to meet us in person," Sow said.
The three students were suspended in January after taking part in a rally on the Visva Bharati campus in protest against the alleged "vindictive attitude of the V-C towards those opposed to his views".
An official of the central university said that they were given a chance to defend their case before the enquiry commissioner appointed by the institute, but all three of them were "unapologetic".
The students were expelled for three years on August 23.
Congress Student Wing Members Detained After "Sansad Gherao" UP Takes Job Exam Decision Amid Prayagraj Protest, Students Say Not Enough Prayagraj Students Protest Job Exams Schedule, Officials Look For Way Out Suspected Car Attack On German Christmas Market Injures Up To 80 Video: Bird's-Eye View Of Devastation After Jaipur Accident That Killed 12 Tabla Legend Zakir Hussain's Funeral Held In San Francisco Saudi Man Arrested After Car Attack At Christmas Market In Germany Volkswagen To Cut 35,000 Jobs In Germany By 2030 Suspected Car Attack On German Christmas Market Injures Up To 80 Track Latest News Live on NDTV.com and get news updates from India and around the world.